All-purpose wheel alignment machine



June 12, 1951 c. SHAW 2,556,227

ALL PURPOSE WHEEL ALIGNMENT MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1I NV EN TOR.

6HARL/E SHAW June 12, 1951 C. SHAW 2,556,227

ALL PURPOSE WHEEL ALIGNMENT MACHINE Filed Nov. 17; 1947' s Sheets-Sheet2 IN VEN TOR. CHA RL/E 5HA w A'I'I'D RNEYS June 12, 1951 c. SHAW2,556,227

ALL PURPOSE WHEEL ALIGNMENT MACHINE Filed Nov. 17. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5W W. F! 06 INVENTOR. CHARL/E SHAW ATTDRN EYE Patented June 12, 1951ALL-PURPOSE WHEEL ALIGNMENT MACHINE Charlie Shaw, Panama City, Fla.Application November 17, 1947, Serial No. 786,340

This invention relates to wheel alinement machines, which areparticularly adapted to be used for alining the front wheels ofautomobiles.

Among the many objects of the invention are to provide a machine of thischaracter that is l light in weight, quickly and easily adjusted, can bequickly and easily assembled or disassembled, the front wheels of theautomobile can be quickly checked without changing the position of themachine, is inexpensive to manufacture and is accurate in itsadjustment.

All adjustments of the machine can be made from the outside of thewheels of the automobile. Thus the operator of the machine can keepfaclose check on the wheels while the wheels are being moved inwardly oroutwardly to check their caster and camber.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine embodying the invention inposition to check the alinement of the front wheels of a motor vehicle;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine, per se;

Figure 3 is a detailed fragmentary view of one of the caster wheels andits mounting;

Figure 4 is a detailed fragmentary view of the double clevis used ateach corner of the machine;

Figure 5 is a detailed fragmentar view of the indicator for theadjustable measuring bar; I

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of Figure 5; I

Figure 7 is a detailed view partly in section'of one of the squareadjusting gauges;

Figure 8 is a detailed fragmentary view of one of the gauge clamps and 3Claims. (0;. ss-, -2 os.17)

Figure 9 is a detailed fragmentary view partly in section of one of thelevels for themachin'e.

Referring more in detail to th drawings, the reference numeral I0designates the machine mbodying the invention,

The machine I0 comprises a skeleton U-shaped framework II, havingcompositeside members [2 and I3 respectively. Each sid member iscomposed of two bar members l4 and I 5 respectively, which are joined attheir inner ends by the short bar member I6. Secured to the outer end ofeach member I5 of the side members I2 and I3 by welding as indicated bythe numeral 11 is a socket l8. Each socket has a threaded bore toadjustably eng g the threaded st m I9 0f t e caster 2 wheel 20. A setscrew 2| carried by each socket will, when tightened, retain the stem I9of the caster wheel in adjusted relation to the socket I8. Intermediateof the inner and outer ends of each member I5, there is provided a seat22 in which is slidably mounted the straight edge or gauge 22. Themember 22 is fixed in its respective seat 22 by a plate 23 overlying themember 22' and retained in place on each member I 5 by a set screw 24.Mounted on each member It, by means of the open face curved seat 25,centrally thereof, is a level 26. Each level is provided with a bubble2! in th usual manner, at both the upper and lower ends thereof. A plate28 secured over the open face of the seat by fasteners 29 carrie a setscrew 30 which when tightened, will retain the level 26 in any setposition on the member I6.

A similar seat 22 is provided in each member I4 of the side members I2and I3, forwardl of V the member Hi. This seat carries the gauge 22which is fixed in its seat by the overlying plate '23 carrying the setscrew 24, all as previously described.

; Forwardly of the member 22 in each member I4, each member I4 has asocket I8 secured there-, to by welding. Each socket has a threaded boreto receive the threaded stem IQ of the caster wheel 20, and a set screw2| in the socket fixes the stem 19 in the socket, all aspreviouslydescribed, Thus by means of the four point support provided bythe caster wheels, the frame is retained in an elevated position abovethe ground surface level. The wheels provide means whereby theframe maybe moved over the ground surface dur.-, ing the alining of the frontwheels of an auto.- mobile. I

Fixed to the forward end of each member 14 is the pointer 3 I.Rearwardly of this pointer, the member, I 4 of the side member I2 ispivoted at 32 to the elongated hollowfmember 33. The member I4 of theside member I3 is pivoted at 33" rearwardly of the pointer 3| to aforeshortened hollow member 34. Fixed to and within the member 34 is thebar 35 which, at the other end, is slidably mounted within the member33. A set screw 36 carried by the member 33 engages the member 35 to fixit within the member 33,

The member 33, at the rear edge thereof, is provided with a slot 36which extends for practically the entire length of this member. The slot36' receives the tongue 31 formed on the rear edge of the member 35, towhich is fixed the L-shaped pointer 38, which, overlying the upper sideof the member 33, cooperates with the graduations 39 on the member 33for the adjustment of the overall length of the members 33, 34 and 35.

Mounted on each of the members 33 and 34 by means of a U-shaped bracket43, is a socket 4!. A set screw 42 in each bracket fixes the bracket toeach member as desired. Slidably mounted in each socket is the shortgauge rod 43 and a set screw 44 in each socket Will fix the rod in thesocket as desired.

Fixed to each outer end of the members 33 and 34, is a sector shapedplate 35. Each plate has a central Zero marking 46, and graduations 4],which extend in an arc on both sides of the zero marking. These platesunderlie the pointers 3| so that the pointers coincid with theg'raduations 41 on each plate. 1

Joining the members 33 and 34 to the members M of the side members l2and I3 respec= tively, are the double clevis members 48. The stirrup 49of this member is pivoted at 50 to each member I l. The stirrup of themember 48 is connected to each member 33 and 33 by a pivot 52, each ofwhich is received in its respective elongated slot 53 in its respectivemember.

In operation, the frame H is set so that the pointers 3! each coincidewith the zero markings n he l t 4 The de m mbe nd 1. are then at aperfect right angle to the member to which they are connected, and aperfect square is formed. The frame is then rolled toward the automobile60 until the members 33 each contact a front wheel SI of the automobile.The meme hers 43 are each adjusted until both are of the same length.Thus the members 33, 34 and 35 are equally spaced from each Wheel. Thegauges 2,2 are then moved inwardly to engage the side wall of each tireon each front wheel or they may contact the rim flange .of the wheel. Ifall contacts cannot be made, due to the height 'of the bumper 62 of theautomobile, the stems of the caster Wheels are adjusted until the bumperis cleared. Sliding of the bar 35 Within the member 33 permits themembers 43 to en: gage the Wheels if they are too far apart or too closetogether. After all contacts are made, and he n l-embers 3.3 an 3 austed. ti h enns of their respective set screws will retain all ad ustmn s (S nce ex e si e t te of the Wh el l leet the toe-in of the Wheelsthe gauges 22 will indicate whether there is incorrect toe=in or not. Ifthe measurements on he au es s i ee r ct the tast r of the wheels can eadjust d eueh he kin or knuckle ns f h en is list hen Qer ee ed ur he rrtleh hi th e in can be accomplished by the tie rods until the auge Z?Qrr -et the tee-in ef t Wll1- The camber 9 the e ls is .Qh ked th ellghthe e l mount d on the si e members, A ru en agin the lev l en in pe e tr l re a o to he amend nd the h l will inlta e the an le of camb r andthe ecessar ad= justment necessary to obtain the correct angle ofcamber.

The use of this machine eliminates the expensive equipment in use at thepresent time, and when used, will accurately and quickly check thealinement of the front wheels while the automobile is parked on an levelground surface.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the operation andconstruction of the machine will be apparent to those skilled in theart, and it is to be understood that changes in the minor details ofconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to,provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A portable alinement machine for the front Wheels of automobiles,comprising a U-shaped frame, casters secured to said frame for the supong thereo sa f me mit al d m m bers and an adjustable front or basemember, means on said side members cooperating with means on said frontmember for placing the ide mem er a erfe i h angles to ai front member,means on said front member to ad us he elationsh o sa freht mb to lilihee s m a n a n said ide emb r nd sale h m m r o etai ng a s members intrue right angle relaticn to said front member and means carried. bysaid side members for checking the camber and toe-in 10 the eht Whee sof e au ei e le- :2- Th n h ieh as n c im 1,. w e the iren m m tem ate ls o ca a ran ed portions and means are provided on said front membe foreheels n the l gi d na dju ef Said t lesc ca y an ed ti ns- The inve ioa i a m 1 w erein he means f check n h -i o h nt wheels empr e au esslid m nted said side members.

CH RLIE SHAW,

streamers I ED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

